Collapsible cot



`lune 18, 1963 J. H. CLAYTON COLLAPSIBLE COT Filed Nov. 16. 1960 INVENTOR. James (l fO/Z ATTURNEY United States Patent 3,093,837 COLLAPSIBLE COT James H. Clayton, Glen Rock, NJ. (175 Union Ave., Rutherford, NJ.) Filed Nov. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 73,159 3 Claims. (Cl. 5-111) My invention relates generally to collapsible cots and more specifically to a collapsible cot adapted for use on beaches or other sandy surfaces, or similar areas that do not offer firm support to legs.

When lying on sand, people generally use blankets, beach robes, towels, or other such devices spread out directly on the surface of the sand. Blanket-like devices, however, have several important disadvantages. Wind usually sweeps most strongly just above the surface of the sand and has a tendency to get under the blanket, picking it up, and rolling over its edges ultimately blowing it away unless it is firmly secured. Even if the blanket is secured so that it will not blow about, sand driven by the wind blows over people lying on the blanket, irritating their eyes and skin and frequently causing wind bur-ns. In addition, sand gets into food, clothes, and other items resting on the blanket. Still further, both the sand and the blanket absorb a great deal of heat from the sun. Thus, persons lying on the blanket become overheated particularly on those portions of the body which are in contact with the blanket.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a cot which cannot be blown about by wind sweeping over the surface of the sand.

AnotherV object of my invention is to provide a cot which will rest on short legs several inches above the surface on which it rests so as to allow cooling air to circulate thereunder.

It is another object of my invention to provide a collapsible cot which may be folded into a neat, compact, and easily transportable bundle.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible cot which utilizes a lwebbing of plastic or other suitable -material as a body support in order to provide a minimum of body contact and a maximum of cooling by air circulation as well as to facilitate folding.

`Yet another object of my invention is to provide a collapsible cot which will rest on short legs provided with discs or other suitable bearing supports so as to prevent sinking into sand or soft earth.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible cot ywhich may be constructed of light weight but durable and inexpensive materials.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by my invention, one embodiment of which is illustrated in the drawings in which:

IFIGURE l is a view in perspective showing a cot fully unfolded:

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective showing a cot folded in half `with a partially folded `position shown in dotted lines:

yFIGURE 3 is a view in perspective showing a cot folded in half at the center of the side members with the end members in a partially folded position.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of a cot completely folded.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIGURE l showing a latch which joins each pair of end segments together.

lReferring now to the drawings in detail, my cot is comprised of a pair of tubular side members 11--11 and a pair of tubular end members 12-12. which cooperatively form a rectangular frame. Each side member is divided into two segments, 13-13 and 14--14. Each end mem- 3,093,837` PatentedA June 118, `196?,l

ber is also divided into two segments, 15-15 and 16-16. Each side segment, 13, 13, 14, 14, is provided with a 90 degree bend at one end which form the corners of the rectangular frame 10. Each pair of side segments 135-13 and 14-14 are hingedly joined together at their inner ends by pin joints 17--17. Each of the pin joints, 17-17, is formed of a pair of T-shaped pieces, 18, 1S, etc., the top cross bars of which are hingedly attached to the side segments 13-13 and 14--14 respectively by pins 19. The vertical portions of the 'iF-shaped pieces 18 are secured as opposed pairs to center legs 20-20 by rivets 9. End legs 21-21 and 22--22 are secured to the outer ends of the side segments 13-13 and 1414 by U-shaped straps 23 which are wrapped around and riveted to the respective legs 21, 21, 22, 22. Each leg 20, 20, 21, 21, 22, 22, is provided with a bearing `support 24, located approximately at the mid-point to prevent the legs from sinking into sand or soft ground. Y The bearing support 24 may be in the form of a disc as shown in the drawings, or it may have any other suitable shape and configuration.

' to accommodate the pins 25. The end segments 15-15 and 16-16 are secured together by a latch 2li-26. The latch 26 is a cylindrical collar 27 which slidably ts over ends of the end segments 15-16 and 15-,16. A spring Z8 is fastened within one of each pair of end segments. A detent 29 is attached to one end of the spring 28 and projects through a hole 30 in the end segment and another hole 31 in the collar 27. When both holes are in alignment, the detent 29 locks the collar 27 in position. In this manner, the slidable collar 27 is releasably heldin position to hold the end segments in end to end alignment as shown in FIGURES l and 2. The latch 26 may be released by pressing down on the detent 29, so that the collar 27 may be slid to one side and the segments released from end to end engagement as is shown in FIGURE 3.

Support for a person lying on the cot may be provided by strips 32 of plastic or any other suitable material which are secured to opposing end members 12-12 and side members 13-13 by rivets 33. The rivets 33 not only secure the strips to the side and end. members but also prevent their sliding along said members when the cot is folded.

To fold my cot, the end members 12-12 are lifted upwardly causing the side members 11--11 to fold at the pin joints 17--17. When the cot has been thus folded in half, the latch 26 is released so that each pair of end segments may separate from each other. The end segments 15-15 and 16-16 are folded inwardly in such a manner that each end segment lies parallel to the side segment to which it is hinged. As this is done, each pair of folded side segments is moved towards the other pair until the `folded end segments lie :parallel to the side segments in abutting relation to each other. Thus, there is formed a compact bundle with the side segments all lying parallel to each other with the end segments abutting.

I; t3 about the pin joints 17-17 until a flat, rectangular cot is formed as shown in FIGURE 1.

f1' he foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper su-bstitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being within the scope of the appended claims, although they are not speciically catalogued herein.

l claim:

1. A collapsible cot comprising pairs of rigid side segments pivotally secured together at their inner ends and delining foldable side members wherein each side segment may be foldably disposedparallel to the side segment to which it is pivotally secured, pairs of rigid end segments pivotally secured to the outer ends of the side segments, the inner ends of the end segments being detachably secured together whereby each end segment may be foldably disposed parallel to the side segment to which it is pivotally secured, the end segments and side segments collectively defining a rigid, rectangular frame when unfolded and a compact group of adjacent, mutually parallel, interconnected segments when folded; a plurality of longitudinal and transverse, flexible strips attached respectively across the end segments and the side segments to provide a iiexible supporting surface across the rectangular frame ywhen unfolded and to provide attachment strips securing together respective elements of pivotally connectedy side segments with end segments pivotally connected thereto when folded thereby preventing detachment of the said-elements; means for rigidly and detacha-bly securing adjacent inner ends of the end segments together-end legs rigidly secured to the outer ends of the side segments, center legs rigidly secured to the inner ends of the side segments, and discs on each of the end and center legs intermediate their ends.

.2. `A collapsible cot comprising pairs of rigid side segments pivotallysecured together at their inner ends and defining foldable side members, pin joints pivotally connecting adjacent pairs of side segments whereby each side segment may be lfoldably disposed parallel to the side segment to which it is pivotally connected, pairs of rigid end Vsegments pivotally secured tothe outer ends of the side segments, the inner ends of the end segments being rigidly and detachably secured together wherebyeach end segment may be foldably disposed parallel to the side segment to which it' is pivotallyY secured, the end segments and side segments collectively dening a rigid,

rectangular frame when unfolded and a compact groupy ofadjacent, mutually parallel, interconnected segments when folded; a` plurality of longitudinal and transverse, foldable strips attached respectively across the end segments and side segments to provide a iiexiblesupporting surface across the rectangular frame when unfolded and to provide attachment strips securing together respective elements of pivotally connected side segments with end segments pivotally connected thereto when folded thereby preventing detachment of the said elements; means for rigidly and detachably securing adjacent inner ends of the end segments together, inverted, `U-shaped straps overlying the side segments at their outer ends and defining downwardly projecting arms, end legs rigidly secured to t the downwardly projecting arms of the U-shaped straps, center legs rigidly secured to the said pin joints, and discs on each of the end and center legs inter-mediate their ends.

3. A collapsible cot comprising pairs of rigid, tubular side segments pivotally secured together and defining foldable side members, pairs of opposed, T-shaped members pivotally engaged with each pair of side segments at their adjacent inner ends whereby each side segment may be foldably disposed parallel to the si-de segment to which it is pivotally secured, outer ends on the side segments -bent inwardly Iat an angle of approximately degrees, a tenen formed integrally on the bent outer end of each side segment, pairs of rigid, tubular, end segments pivotally secured to the outer ends of the side segments, the inner ends of the end segments being detachably secured together; a tenon formed integrally on the outer end of each end segment and pivotally engaged tothe tenon on the side segment to which it is pivotally-secured whereby each end segment may be foldably disposed parallel to the side segments to which it is pivotally secured; the end segments and side segments collectively defining the l rigid, rectangular frame when unfolded and a compact group of adjacent, mutually parallel, interconnected segments when folded; a plurality of longitudinal and transverse foldable strips attached respectively across the end segments and the side segments and secured against longitudinal displacement with respect t0 the said segments to provide a flexible supporting surface across the rectangular frame when unfolded and to 'provide attachment strips securing together respective elements of pivotally con-A nected side segments with end segments pivotally connected thereto when folded, thereby preventing ydetachment of the said elements; an annular, elongated collar coaxially and slidably mounted on one of each of the pairs of end segments and adapted to be Vslidably disposed across the abutting" inner ends of the end segments whereby the said end segments `may be rigidly and detachably secured together, a spring positioned within one of each of the pairs of tubular, end segments near its inner end, a detent on one end of the spring normally urged outwardly by the spring, an opening in the end segment in which the spring is recessed opposite the detent, a cooperative opening in the annular collar, said openings adapted to receive the detent when aligned thereby securing the collar against accidental, longitudinal displacement with respect to the end segment, inverted U-shaped straps-overlying the side segments at their bent outer ends and ydeiining downwardly projecting arms, end legs rigidly secured to the downwardly projecting armsof theV U-shaped straps, center legs rigidly secured to the downwardly projecting, vertical legs of the opposed T-shaped members, and discs on each of the end and center legsv disposed intermediate their ends.

References Cited inthe iile' of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE COT COMPRISING PAIRS OF RIGID SIDE SEGMENTS PIVOTALLY SECURED TOGETHER AT THEIR INNER ENDS AND DEFINING FOLDABLE SIDE MEMBERS WHEREIN EACH SIDE SEGMENT MAY BE FOLDABLY DISPOSED PARALLEL TO THE SIDE SEGMENT TO WHICH IT IS PIVOTALLY SECURED, PAIRS OF RIGID END SEGMENTS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF THE SIDE SEGMENTS, THE INNER ENDS OF THE END SEGMENTS BEING DETACHABLY SECURED TOGETHER WHEREBY EACH END SEGMENT MAY BE FOLDABLY DISPOSED PARALLEL TO THE SIDE SEGMENT TO WHICH IT IS PIVOTALLY SECURED, THE END SEGMENTS AND SIDE SEGMENTS COLLECTIVELY DEFINING A RIGID, RECTANGULAR FRAME WHEN UNFOLDED AND A COMPACT GROUP OF ADJACENT, MUTUALLY PARALLEL, INTERCONNECTED SEGMENTS WHEN FOLDED; A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE, FLEXIBLE STRIPS ATTACHED RESPECTIVELY ACROSS THE END SEGMENTS AND THE SIDE SEGMENTS TO PROVIDE A FLEXIBLE SUPPORTING SURFACE ACROSS THE RECTANGULAR FRAME WHEN UNFOLDED AND TO PROVIDE ATTACHMENT STRIPS SECURING TOGETHER RESPECTIVE ELEMENTS OF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED SIDE SEGMENTS WITH END SEGMENTS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED THERETO WHEN FOLDED THEREBY PREVENTING DETACHMENT OF THE SAID ELEMENTS; MEANS FOR RIGIDLY AND DETACHABLY SECURING ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF THE END SEGMENTS TOGETHER, END LEGS RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF THE SIDE SEGMENTS, CENTER LEGS RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE INNER ENDS OF THE SIDE SEGMENTS, AND DISCS ON EACH OF THE END AND CENTER LEGS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS. 